Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-30
PAID THE PENALTY

Harding Executed Yester-
day at Dillon.
Ia Dies without . Confession Of His
Guilt.
xo,eity in E1ecutions-The Crime for
v,,ch He Was hsnged-scenes At h
Special to TIE MINER
n,,oN. Mont, March 26.-The day
,,,ke chilly and cloudy this morning, and
auos nv far the most disagreeable one
n.n.rienced during the present month.
About the Beaverhead County Jail there
little to Indicate the scene which was
~ be enacted during the day. Rev. Father
nails arrived on Wednesday evening and
h,o,oht the intelligence that Governor Les
=. had declined to interfere and that the
a~,ecution must proceed. The priest saw
.be condemned man about z O'Clock
on Thursday, and he seemed Indifferent as
o. his fate. Until that time be had great
hon.s that he would receive a new trial,
hut then he gave himself up to the inevita-
Mo and became nervous and restless.
Soon after the priest departed Harding
,stired for the night, with Newton Morgan
m the death watch, but Harding slept
,pry little, and was up early. At $50 a.
m. Father Dolls called and remained with
him. About 7:3O o'clock Harding ate a
hearty breakfast, consisting OF four eggs, a
good sized beefsteak, some corn, toast, etc.,
and bore up wonderfully well.
is TO DIE.
At s o'clock he was seen by your CORE.
spondent and then for the first time
showed any signs OF weakness. The con-
demned man said his age was twenty-eight
years, and that he was raised in Cohoes
Falls. New York, at which place he has a
mother, step father, sisters and brothers.
He stated that his past life had been good
and clear, and that no person could say
anything in regard to his past life. but
that he had been raised we'll, and by hang
ing him they would not make q murderer
out OF him.
"You say you are innocent OF the crime
os (which you are convicted?" asked your
correspondent.
~ do" wal the emphatic reply.
He said he was resigned to his fate and
not afraid to die.
remarked that it must be a hard blow
on his aged mother, at which he gave one
pasp, as if almost instantly cFoked up, and
a tender cord having been struck in his
heart, the tears began to flow and he
wept bitterly.
told him not to break down, and at this
point Rev. Father Dolls placed his hand
mon Harding's shoulders and gave him
words OF comfort.
He WAS then asked as to his treatment
siuce his Incarceration, and how he felt
towards the officers and tho community.
At first he gave an evasive reply, and see
ing that he was far from penitent and
lacking OF any spirit of forgiveness, 1
asked him how the officers had treated
him. As Sheriff Jones walked up Hard
ing remarked with some feeling: II have
received all the benefits OF the jail and
what the law allows, and no more"
After some further conversation OF little
Importance, your correspondent saw that
- IL ~o:ooJ Al~ lo<to~ @f hin l
arose and took Harding by the hand,
whereupon he said: II desire you to set
me right before the public" This assur
ance was given, and the interview ended,
the condemned man being left with his
spiritual adviser.
REV. FATHER Dolls,
Harding's spiritual adviser, was inter-
viewed. He stated that he came to Dillon
on the receipt of q telegram from j. H.
Duffy, the attorney for Harding, who was
in Helena. He called upon the prisoner
about 6 p. m. on Thursday, and had a
short consultation with him. Heinformed
the condemned man that he was probably
entering upon his last night upon earth,
and asked him if he was reconciled to his
end. The answer was: swell, it is hard
on my rela %tions," exhibiting some warmth
and feeling. II believe in God, my creator;
l am sorry for any wrong l have done on
this earth, and l will try to meet my God
in Heaven" After that he received the
sacrament and confession, and after prayer
Father Dolls departed. At 7:8O O'Clock
this morning the last communion al ad-
ministered, and at intervals during the
forenoon the holy father had talks with the
prisoner, the latter spending the remainder
Of the time in meditation.
PROTESTING HIS INNOCENCE.
J.. H. Duffy, OF the firm Of Campbell &
Duffy, the attorneys for Harding, came
down from Butte on Thursday night g train
and upon his arrival found q telegram from
Harding's mother, imploring the attorneys,
if possible, to secure a communication OF the
penalty to Imprisonment for life. but every
means OF securing executive clemency a
been used. and there was nothing to be
done except to stand by and see the SEN
tence carried into effect. At 8 O'Clock yes
terday morning Mr.. Duffy called at the jail
and was admitted to see his client. In the
course OF his conversation the attorney adj
vised the doomed man to make his peace
with God and the world by telling all he
knew of the tragedy if he knew anything.
The prisoner reiterated his innocence and
declare | that the evidence OF Clark,
the man who testified that Harding had
asked him to join in the conspiracy to rob
the stage, and also the evidence given by
Pat Smit;has to the prisoner admissions OF
guilt, were false. Mr.. Duffy referred to Kenne.
dy's arrest as his accomplice, and advised:
him, if he knew anything, to do Kennedy jus,
tice by telling, but a positive denial OF all
knowledge was returned. The prisoner
thanked Mr.. Duffy for the efforts made to
save him, bewailed his inability to pay him
and the interview came to an end.
THE sCAFFoLD.
At II o'clock James A. Myers, the build.
er, placed the scaffold in position in the
southwest corner of the Jail yard, and the
following diagram will give a good idea OF
Its mechanism: